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Although Columbia has two ongoing tax-increment financing projects downtown, city officials have expressed a desire to increase its use in the First Ward. Statewide data suggest many considerations need to be made before branching out.

City and county officials are discussing the increased use of tax-increment financing, a public funding method pioneered in California in the early 1950s. The method was legalized in Missouri in 1982, though its use in Columbia has only picked up in the past three years.

City and county officials are pondering a more expansive use of tax-increment financing to address a variety of public projects. Here's a look at how the method is being used by other cities across Missouri.

Freshman Ashtin Stephens and sophomore Mackenzie Sykes, two of the Tigers' best offensive players this season, attended Blue Springs High School, where they led the Wildcats to an undefeated state championship season in 2009.

Missouri's House passed two business bills Thursday that could overcome previous vetoes by the governor. While one of the bills would reduce protections for whistleblowers, the other would bar employees from suing their co-workers for on-the-job injuries.

After earning a spot in the starting lineup with a breakout at first base, Mike McGraw is confined to the dugout after injuring his thumb in practice. The sophomore, who is in his first year with the Tigers, hopes to return before the season is over.

Missouri women's golf recruit Katherine Hepler has an impressive game, but that's not all. She has a 4.0 GPA, a 35 ACT score, plays several musical instruments and tutors chemistry and algebra, "just for fun."